New Rules Coming For Companies Risking Hazardous Spill In B.C.

VANCOUVER - British Columbia is unprepared for a major land-based, hazardous-material spill because current rules and regulations are outdated — and that needs to change, says the province's environment minister.

Mary Polak told reporters Monday the government is working on ways to create a quicker, more co-ordinated response to land-based spills.

"Our experience with smaller spills and near misses shows the province is not prepared for a major spill," she said. "Our goal is to have a world-leading spill regime in place, and we recognize we're not there yet."

The plans include creating an organization that will be able to immediately respond to any spill with trained workers and proper equipment.

The minister said the provincially certified, industry-funded organization will be able to start containing and co-ordinating cleanup of a spill quicker than current crews.

Polak compared the team to West Coast Marine Response Organization, an agency contracted by the federal government to contain and clean up marine spills.

"That's the kind of idea that we are looking at. You have one body that can be contacted, that can be put into place, taking action even before we've identified who's responsible for a spill," she said.